MINNEAPOLIS — A woman has changed her plea in a federal sex trafficking investigation tied to former Minnesota GOP operative Anton Lazzaro.
According to court documents, Gisela Castro Medina entered a guilty plea Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, as well as a second count of obstruction in the sex trafficking investigation. In exchange for her guilty plea, five other counts of sex trafficking of a minor will be dropped against Castro Medina.
Federal prosecutors accused Lazzaro of recruiting six underage girls to have sex in exchange for gifts and money. Castro Medina was charged with helping Lazzaro recruit the girls.
Lazzaro was formerly a Republican campaign strategist in Minnesota. In the wake of Lazzaro's arrest and subsequent party turmoil, Republican Party Chair of Minnesota Jennifer Carnahan resigned her position, but denied having any knowledge of Lazzaro's alleged activity. The two had hosted a podcast together and were often seen with one another at social events.
Castro Medina was just 19 when she was arrested and charged in 2021. According to the Minnesota College Republicans, Castro Medina was the organization's University of St. Thomas chair. In a press release, the organization said Castro Medina was not an active member and had not yet begun officially working for it "in an official capacity" at the time of her arrest.
Lazzaro has repeatedly sought to drop the charges against him. He is scheduled to go to trial in March 2023.
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